






Title 



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Old Saratoga 

AMD THE 

Burgoyne Campaign. 



S i'n'ief ^ketd] of tl]e ^kAy Sv^toi'y of tl^ 

■I^air\ou^ Sui|tiilg (^foui^d^ ai^d tl]e 

Cka^paigri \rl\{6\\ j{r|ded ir^ tl^e ^ui'- 

i'ei)def of tl^e Sriti^^li Sfii^y, at 

^ai'ato^k, 06tohei' 1^, If^r, 

witl] dor|(fi^'e f)e^^di'iptioii>'^ 

of tlie Prii|dipkl Plkde.^ 

Coiii]edted Witl) tl^e 



BY 



WILLIAM S. OSTRANDER. 



SCHUYLERVILLE, N. Y 



TWO COPIES RECEIVED 



1897.; 



\pp\jn/i ^ 



\ \kJ^.\. 



OCT 19 1897 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the \'ear 
1897, by W. S. Ostrander, in the office of the Librarian 
of Congress, at Washington. 



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Saratoga. 



"One of the few immortal names that were not born 
to die." 

npHIS is not to be confounded with tlie modern 
* watering place, which takes its name from the old 
locality, several miles removed from its medicinal 
waters, charming- pleasure resorts and gay society. 

The old Indian hunters' paradise lay along the 
Hudson river, for a distance of twenty or thirty 
miles northerly from what is now Mecliauicville, 
with wooded slopes on either side, extending back 
from the rich bottom lands along the stream. To 
these famous hunting and tishing grounds from the 
earliest days, came the Indian sportsuieu, for the 
pleasures and profits of the chase. It was variously 
known as Sar-ach-to-goe, Och-ser-a-tou-gue, Och- 
secli-ra-ge and otherwise, to its ancient pro])rietors. 
The earliest white visitors found it in possession of 
the Maquaes. or Mohawks, the fiercest of the famous 
Iroquois, or six nations, who had driven out the Ma- 
hicanders, or Mohicans, its former owners. 

Toward the northern part of tliis territor3% Fish 
Creek, the outlet of the present Lake Saratoga, joined 
the Hudson. 

July 26, 1683, certain Mohawk Sachems deeded to 
Cornelius Van Dyk, Jan Jausen Bleeker. Peter Phil- 
ippsen Schuyler and Johannes Wendell, the flower 
of the old hunting grounds, which may be roughly 
described as extendino- alono- the Hudson from what 



4 SAKATOGA. 

Ls now Anthony's Kil, at Mechanicville, northerly t(» 
Batten Kil, near Schuylerville, and backwai'd from 
the river about six miles on eitlier side. 

It appears that a remnant of the Mohicans (luit- 
claimed to the above grantees, any rights the\^ might 
have in these lands. 

The curious reader will lind the original Indian 
deed in the Albany County Clerk's othce, Liber 8 of 
deeds, page 193, to which are athxed numerous pic- 
tures of animals, turtles, birds, &c., representing 
the Indian signatures. 

Consent having been thus had of the Indian own- 
ers, a patent for these lands in due form, since 
known as the Saratoga Patent, was granted by Gov* 
Thos. Dongan to said grantees and their associates, 
November 4, 1684. This instrument is recorded in 
the office of the Secretary of State, at Albany, in 
Liber 5 of Patents, page 159. 

Thus passed from savage to civilized ownership, 
the lands whereon a century later should be fought 
one of the few decisive battles of the world's history. 

The name Fort Saratoga, given in 1090, to a fort 
erected at the confluence of Fish Creek Avith the 
Hudson, is said to be the first ai)plication by tlie 
whites of the old name. 

A BIT OF TOPOGRAPHY, 

The Appalachian chain of mountains, divides the 
watershed of the St. Lawrence from the Xew Eng- 
land and Middle States of our LTniou. The valley of 
the Hudson and of Lake Champlain is the only way 
by which large bodies of warriors or troops could be 
conveniently transported from one locality to the 



A BIT OF TOPOGRAPHY. 5 

Other. This feature has always deteriiiiued tliat 
struggles for the possession of America should be 
waged aloDg these valleys. Before the advent of 
the whites, the Algonquins iiiliabited the Canadian 
lauds, and the Iroquois and New England Indians 
the territory to the south. Tlie Iroquois warrior in 
quest of Algonquin scalps and plunder came down 
tJie Moliawk to Schenectady, thence to Ballstou Lake. 
Kayaderosseras Creek, Saratoga Lake, Fish Creek, the 
Hudson, Lake Champlaiu and its outlets, by which he 
had an almost continuous water route to the heart of 
the Canadian possessions. The Northern Indian seek- 
ing the blood and treasure of his Soutliern foe, fol- 
lowed the same trail south, and thus Old Saratoga, 
now Schuylerville, at the continence of the Ilsh 
Creek and Hudson river, from the earliest days, rano- 
with the war cry of the savage warriors on theiV 
forays. Tlie same topographical features which 
led the painted savage through its valley, brought, 
in his wake, the armed tread of his contending 
white brethren. For upwards of two centuries its 
fruitful vales and pleasant homes have felt the heavy 
hand of strife and glowed with the torch of conJiict 
somp: early struggles in thk valley. 
In 1555, Jacques Cartier sailed up the St. Law- 
rence river and discovered certiin Indian villages: 
at the present site of Montreal was a large village. 
Upon the mountain overlooking it he raised a cross 
and took possession of the country in the name of 
the French King, Francis L In 1(303, Champlaiu en- 
tered the St. Lawrence, and on a subsequent voyage 
In 1008, he founded the city of Quebec. The follow- 
ing year he discovered and explored the lake which 



() SOME EARLY STRUGGLES IN THE VALLEY. 

bears his name. Thus were laid tlie foundations of 
the French jiowcr in America. AVithin the next 
tifty years some three thousand inliabitants had set- 
tled about the forts at Montreal, Quebec and Three 
Rivers. 

In 1(509, Henry Hudson discoveied the river Avhidi 
bears his name, and in 1613, a fort was built by the 
Dutch, at Manhattan Island. Ten years later Fort 
Orange, (now Albany), was erected and a settlement 
established there by the Dutch. 

The English had established themselves in settle- 
ments, at Plymouth, in 1620, and later at divers 
places along the Xew England coast and claimed 
the country as far south as Delaware, by virtue of 
the Cabot discoveries in 1497. The conflicting 
claims of Dutch and English resulted, 1664, in a war 
in which the Dutch possessions passed under the 
control of the English. Thus the French and Eng- 
lish had become established at either end of the 
Champlain-Hudson valley. 

From earliest times there had been wars between 
(Canadian Indians and those of New York and Xew 
England. The Algonquins having been aided by 
the tirearms of Champlain, about 1609, in action 
against the Iroquois, a hatred for the French was 
formed in the hearts of the latter which was manifes- 
ted by yearly raids on the Frencli settlements and 
alliances with the British settlers of Xew Yorii and 
New England. 

About 1689. the French Governor of Canada, as- 
sailed hunting parties of the Iroquois, who were 
then allies of the English, near the lakes, and in the 
summer of that year, a party of fifteen hundred 



SOME EARLY STRUGGLES IX THE VALLEY. 7 

Iroquois wjirriors passed over the old trail from the 
Mohawk valley by Lake Saratog-a, past Schuyler- 
ville, aud up the river aud lake and suddenly fell 
upon the settlers about Montreal. For miles around 
the settlers were captured or killed and the country 
pillagiHl. After a stay of some weeks, they burned 
and massacred about ninety prisoners and the greater 
part returned from tlie war path, but a considerable 
number in small bands continued long after to 
terrify the countr\\ 

In the winter of 1G90, expeditions were fitted out 
by Governor Frouteuac, in Canada, to strike the 
English, at Albany, New Hampshire and Maine. 
This was in pursuance of a plan formed bj^ the 
French to send a force down Lake Champlain to 
Albany, to co-operate with a naval force to be sent 
against ^ew York aud up the Hudson ; almost 
identicalh^ the plan adopted by Burgoyne many 
years later. The one destined for Albany came 
down the lake and river to Schuylerville, and there 
turned aside up Fish Creek and Saratoga Lake to 
Schenectady. The little village was rakeu wholly 
by surprise at dead of night in mid winter. About 
sixty persons, of all ages and both sexes were killed 
and more captured aud carried away prisoners. Tlie 
village was sacked and ^burned and the victors re- 
turned over the trail. 

In response to this attack, in the summer of 1690, 
an expedition under Gen. Fitz John Winthrop, 
about seven hundred strong, including one hundred 
and fifty Indians, came up from Albany and Con- 
necticut, aud passing up the Hudson, proceeded as 
far as Ticonderoga, when, owing to lack of provisions 



S SOME EARLY STRUGGLES IN THE VALLEY. 

and prevalence of small pox, tlie expedition turned 
back, losing- a large number by the disease. 

In the winter of 1093, a French force was sent by 
Frontenac against the Mohawks. Several Indian 
forts along the Mohawk were destroyed and many 
prisoners taken. The English from Albany under 
Col. Peter Schuyler, assisted in repelling them, and 
aid from New York under Gov. Fletcher arrived 
after the retreat of the French. His speedy help 
when their castles were attacked, won the warm 
friendship of the Iroquois. 

Queen Anne ascended the throne in 1700 ; war with 
France speedily followed. The Colonies were soon 
involved and depredations by the French were di- 
rected against New England. Deerlield was burned 
in 1704, about sixty of its people killed, and upwards 
of a Iiundred carried away captive. During the fol- 
lowing years repeated invasions from the north 
aroused the English to action. In 1709, a large force 
was to be sent by water from Boston to attack Que- 
bec. Another force of Connecticut, New York and 
New Jersey troops were to proceed up the Hudson 
and Lake to Montreal. In June of that year. Col. 
Peter Schujder, leading the vanguard, proceeded up 
the Hudson. At Stillwater, he built a fort which he 
called Fort Ingoldsby, in honor of Governor lugolds- 
by ; at Saratoga, (Schuylerville), he built a fort on 
the east side of the river. At Fort Miller, he built 
another fort ; at Fort Edward he built a fort which 
he called Fort Nicholson, in honor of his chief in 
command. Proceeding north to Wood Creek, at the 
mouth of Halfway Creek, he built a fort which he 
called Fort Schuyler, but afterward named Fort 



SOME EARLY STRUGGLES IN THE VALLEY. 9 

Amie, in honor of the Queen. These forts were 
garrisoned and the command awaited the coming of 
the ships for the water attack on Quebec. But the 
ships failed to come and both expeditions were 
abandoned. 

In 1711, another attack on Canada was projected, 
and like the last one, was given up on account of the 
failure of the lieet to arrive. During the next thirty 
years peace followed and the French settled and 
fortified Crown Point and the Champlain valley, 
while the English Colonists populated and strength- 
ened Saratoga and the Hudson vallej^ 

THE MASSACRE AT SARATOGA. 

In 1740, Charles VI, of Germauj^ died, and among 
the claimants to his throne arose the war of the 
Austrian succession. George II, of England, sided 
with Maria Theresa, of Austria, and France sup- 
ported her enemies. In 1744, war was declared by 
France against England and the American Colonies 
became involved in a war which was of little conse- 
quence to them. Louisburg, a strongly fortilied 
French post on the Island of Cape Breton, was cap- 
turen by ISTew Englanders, in June, 1745. In retalia- 
tion for this defeat, the French in the fall of the 
same year sent an expedition from Canada against 
the Connecticut river settlements. Leaving Mon- 
treal in November, 1745, they came by the way of 
Lake Champlain, about five hundred strong, includ- 
ing one-half Indians, and reached Crown Point 
about the middle of November. Here the Indians 
refused to cross the mountains to the Connecticut, 
and it was agreed to fall upon Saratoga, (Schuyler- 
ville). Marching overland along South Bay, they 



10 THE MASSACRE AT SARATOGA. 

came down to Fort Miller, ou the night of Novem- 
ber 28th. Five miles below, at the junction of Fish 
Creeii with the Hudson lay the unsuspecting hamlet 
of Saratoga, a wooden fort, four mills, some thirty 
dwellings, including the fortified brick mansion of 
the Schuylers, (which stood between the present 
Schuyler mansion and the Champlain canal), barns 
full of grain, stables of cattle, stacks of sawed lum- 
ber; farm produce in considerable quantities and 
about one hundred souls made up the village of 
Saratoga. 

On that fatal night while farmer and artisan 
rested from toil, while the embers smouldered on the 
hearth and childhood dreamed within the trundle 
bed, the savage foe advancing down the river fell sud- 
denly upon the little hamlet. With tire and sword 
the settlement was speedily laid waste ; fort, dwel- 
lings, animals and produce were reduced to ashes, 
and the inhabitants killed or carried away captive, 
only two or three escaping to tell the tale. Brave 
old Philip Schuyler, (Uncle of the General), was 
sliot and killed in his mansion while gallantly de- 
fending his home. The morning sun rose upon the 
smoking ruins of this fertile settlement, the fruits of 
its industr)' consumed, its people slain, or following 
with bleeding feet their savage captors through the 
frozen wilderness. 

Within the next two years a fort on the north side 
of Fish Creek near the bank of the Hudson had been 
built, provided with block houses, christened Fort 
Clinton, in honor of Gov. Clinton, and garrisoned 
with upwards of one hundred and fifty men. 

In June, 1747, a force of French and Indians 



THE MASSACRE AT SARATOGA. 11 

imder M. de La Corne St. Luc, surprised this strong- 
hold and captured over half the garrison. A few 
months later the fort was abandoned and burnt by 
the English, leaving no fortifications between Al- 
bany and the northern frontier. 

ENGLISH ACQUISITION OF CANADA. 

From 1755 to 1759, yearly struggles between 
the French and English for supremacy In America 
dotted the valley with graves of brave men, and 
kept the settlements from Albany to Montreal con- 
tinually harrassed by scalping parties, tomahawk 
and secret arrows. Large bodies of troops, regulars, 
militiamen and Indian allies, were manoeuvred 
along the Hudson and through the Lake George and 
Champlain valleys. Forts with garrisons were es- 
tablished at Fort Miller, Fort Edward and Fort 
William Henry, by the English, while 1i- 
conderoga and Crown Point were fortified 
l)y the French. In the summer and autumn of 1759, 
the English dislodged their adversaries from Ticon- 
deroga and Crown Point and with the decisive 
victory of Wolfe over Montcalm at Quebec, the 
dominion of the French in America was ended. A 
treaty followed in 1763, and thei-e was peace along 
the old trails until the struggle of the American 
Colonies for independence, in 1776-7, woke its echoes 
once more to the warwhoop, the rattle of musketry, 
the roar of artillery, the shout of victory and the 
groan of the maimed and dying. 



12 BURGOYNE'S CAMPAIGN. 



5urgo\Jnc's Campaign. 

THE year 1777 was fraught with import to the 
American colonies. It marks, perhaps, the 
most perilous period of our national history, and one 
of the great crises in the world's history. The mem- 
ory of its achievements will last as long as freemen 
dwell upon the earth and popular government ob- 
tains among the nations. 

The colonists had announced their solemn resolve 
to sever the ties which bound them to the mother 
State and to become a free and independent nation 
among the peoples of the earth. The word was 
spoken, but the work was yet to be accomplished. 
Tlie baptism of fire was yet to be endured, before 
the word became the fact. Rambliug efforts had 
been made by the Crown to subdue the rebels ; but 
the first systematic attempt to crush the insurrec- 
tion was yet to be made. 

In the spring of 1777, General John Burgoyne 
succeeded Carleton in command in Canada, and, in 
early summer, entered upon his most memorable 
campaign. It had already been determined that 
the stronghold of America was the center and com- 
manding point of the great system of mountains and 
valleys of New York, the confluence of the Mohawk 
and Hudson rivers. Upon this point the royal forces 
were to converge ; Howe from the south, St. Lester 



BURGOYNE'S CAMPAIGN. ]3 

from the west, aad Biirgoyne from the uorth, dis- 
memberiug- the colonics and crnshiug the reht^llion. 

With an army of nearly ten thousand men, dis- 
ciplined in war and splendidly equipped, under the 
leadership of Frazer, whose inspiring presence tilled 
the British heart with fire : Riedesel, the sturdy 
German Baron, whose name passed as a synonym of 
valor and caution ; and Phillips, the great artillery 
commander of the continental wars, Burgojme as- 
cended Lake Champlain, and suddenly appeared 
before the American army of less than five thous- 
sand, naked, ill-armed and unaccoutred troops at the 
fortress of Ticoiideroga. He had issued a proclamation 
calling upon the people to rally around the standard 
of their merciful and loving sovereign, and threat- 
ening, if they refused, to let loose hordes of savages 
upon them. Planting his cannon upon the hitherto 
inaccessible heights of " Fort Defiance," the invader 
forced the patriots from the first two strongholds, 
and back into the wilderness. 

The colonists were firm, and the Indians came. 
At Fort Edward was murdered a beautiful 5^oung 
girl, the betrothed of a British officer. But, as it 
has been truly said, her blood was not sl^ed in vain. 
The people were aroused in every qltarter. The 
name of poor Jane McCrea passed as a watchword 
along the vallej^ of the Hudson, and was echoed 
among the mountains of Vermont. It passed from 
the yeomanry of New York, to the militiamen of 
Massachusetts, and cried out for vengeance to the 
bold "• Green Mountain Boys." And as the little 
army was pushed from retreat to retreat, through 
the wilderness and down the streams, brave hearts 



14 BURGOYNE'S CAMPAIGN. 

and strong arms were gathering around its banners. 

Near Bemis' Heights, tlie forces met upon equal 
ground and in equal combat. Charges and counter- 
charges piled the field with heaps of slain, until 
with sheer exhaustion the roar of conflict ceased, 
and the mantle of descending darkness shut out the 
scene of carnage from the eyes of men. For some 
days victory hung in the balance, till the hand of 
God turned the scale toward liberty and progress. 
Gallant Frazer, the soul of the Britisli army, was 
slain in the forefront of battle. And when his 
cheering voice and waving sword were missed along 
the line, tlie day was vron for freedom. Instead of 
the royal jiennant waving to the breeze at Albany, 
Burgoyne saw his shattered armj'' hurled back 
through rain and mire, bearing their tattered stand- 
ards to the heights of Saratoga, with the enemy in 
full retreat. There tlie way was blocked with 
sturdy patriots. Eetreat to Canada was cut off, and 
the road to Albany had been already tried. 

A victorious enemy is pressing upon all sides. 
Burgoyne's army reduced to about four thousand 
men, with only three days' provisions, is hemmed in 
bvoi^e of nearly twenty thousand, full of theanima- 
tiou of victory. Storms of iron hail are sweeping 
his camp. His headipiarters has become a target for 
the field guns of the enemy. Soon it is cut to pieces 
and his council board dispersed. Then come wounds 
and thirst, and the white flag sues for terms. The 
commanders meet. The sword is delivered. The 
bronzed and hardy veterans of many a campaign on 
the Continent, file out and pile their arms, and the 
long train of prisoners starts for Boston between the 



BURGOYNE'S CAMPAIGN. 15 

guavdino- bnyonets of the Continental troopers, with 
the "Stars and Strix)es,'' here unfurled for the tirst 
time, floating- overhead. The campaign is ended, 
the royal power is broken, and success is sure. St. 
Leger's army is dispersed, Clinton retires to New 
Yorl^. France hastens to acknowledge the inde- 
pendence of the Colonies ; and " Tlie light is dawn- 
ing upon the American cause." "The control of a 
Continent has slipped away from the King, and 
henceforth the only struggle will be to save for the 
Crown, that which cannot be conquered for it." 

The sounds of war are hushed along the river. 
The ploughshare has leveled its fortifications with 
tlie earth. The hum of myriad spindles is singing 
the labor song of peace. The harvest of death is 
gathered in, and in its stead fields of waving grain 
are growing golden in the summer sun. More than 
a hundred years have passed away in peace, yet we 
are only just beginning to realize the glorious 
results of tliis great victory. The hand of God was 
in the struggle, and He it is who shapes its sequel. 
When from Labrador to California, and from the 
Arctic to Darien, all our stores of mineral wealth 
shall be wrested from their rocky prison walls ; 
when all our fertile plains and valleys shall be peo- 
pled with a prosperous and happy race of men : 
when all our streams shall echo to the sounds of 
'industry ; when liberty and law and intelligence 
shall be welded into a system of government best 
suited to mankind ; when the flight of years shall 
show that education and equality of rights is the 
only basis of firm and enduring government ; then 
we shall realize the wisdom of that old statesman 



16 BURGOYNE'S CAMPAIGN. 

who has said, that from Marathon to Waterloo there 
was no martial event that had a more far-reaching 
influence upon the affairs of men than the surrender 
at Saratoga. 

THE MARCH AND THE DEFEAT. 

During 1776 and the early spring of 1777, an army 
under Sir Guy Carleton, had been collected in Can- 
ada, and very carefully drilled and equipped. It 
was led by officers of great courage, skill and 
etficieucy. Phillips, Eiedesel, Frazer, Hamilton, 
Sj^echt, Gall, Kingston, Balcarras, Ackland, each 
and all had earned professional distinction under lire. 
By clever intrigue Burgoyne contrived to have the 
command of this armj^ transferred to himself, and 
with it he proposed to cut his way down the old 
Champlain-Saratoga trail, from Canada to Albany, 
there to co-oi)erate with Howe, who was to sail up 
to Albany, and St. Leger, who was to advance easterly 
through the Mohawk Valley. On May 10, 1777, the 
command about 10,000 strong was formally turned 
over to him, and early in June he proceeded up Lake 
Champlain. and having been joined on the way by 
about 400 Indians, he occupied Crown Point on the 
last day of June. Next day his forces arrived at 
the defences of Ticonderoga, which was garrisoned 
by about live thousand Americans under St. Clair. 
At the point of land where the watei-s of Lake 
George meet those of Champlain, a crag about 
seven hundred feet high, commanded all the Ameri- 
can works. This w^as occupied without great diffi- 
culty by the English, and made necessary the 
abandonment of all the American works. This was 
named Fort Defiance. On the night of July 5-6, the 



V 



.1 



K 




THE MARCH AND THE DEFEAT. 17 

Coutiuental troops retreated, sendiug their sick, 
baggage aud some j^rovisions, to Whitehall by boats, 
and their army going into Vermont. Eighty can- 
non, thousands of tons of flour, meat aud provisions, 
and much ammunition, small arms and equipments, 
were left behind. 

Leaving the fortress of Ticonderoga. the main 
army of the Americans proceeded to Hubbardton, 
Vermont, where Col. Seth Warner was put in 
command of the rear guard, and the main army 
pressed on to Castleton. Fraser, ever alert and 
energetic, had immediately given pursuit of the 
fleeing Americans, and came up with Col. Warner's 
command, at Hubbardton. A fierce fight took place 
in which severe losses were suffered on both sides, 
the Americans losing over three hundred and the 
British nearly two hundred. Warner had failed to 
obey orders aud keep close to the main army, and so 
was unsupported. Fraser was assisted by reinforce- 
ments, and Warner retreated, leaving several pieces 
of artillery on the field. Fraser came very near 
being surrounded and cut off, and but for the timely 
arrival of reinforcements would have been captured. 

Meantime Burgoyne had pursued by water that 
part of the American army which had sailed to 
Whitehall, aud had sent a force over the mountains, 
at South Bay, to cut off the retreat of the Americans 
from Whitehall to Fort Ann. 

The fleet overtook and destroyed the American 
boats near Whitehall, and the stores, batteaux and 
mills there were burned by the Americans, who 
retreated by Wood Creek to Fort Ann. A force was 
immediately sent forward by Burgoyne to attack 
Fort Ann. This fort was occupied by a garrison of 



18 THE MARCH AND THE DEFEAT. 

about five hundred militia, who had been pLaeed 
there by order of Gen. Schuyler, to hold back Bur- 
goyne until stores could be removed from Fort 
George. On tlie approach of the British the garri- 
son, on July 8th, sallied forth and gave battle at or 
near what is now known as Kanes' Falls, or 
Battle Hill. A sharp engagement ensued, 
but the ammunition of the Americans giving 
out, and their adversaries being reinforced by 
British and Indians, they burned the fort and fell 
back on Fort Edward, felling trees in the roads, 
destroying bridges, placing rocks in Wood Creek, 
and in all ways impeding the advance of the enemy. 
Meanwhile the remnants of Col. Warner's force had 
joined the main army under St. Clair, and all had 
fallen back on Fort Edward and there joined Schuj'- 
ler's army. 

THE JANE JIC'CREA TRAGEDY. 

On July 27th, occurred the tragedy of Jane 
McCrea's death. This beautiful young woman was 
about removing with a Mrs. McNeal, with whom she 
lived, from Fort Edward to Fort Miller, for greater 
safety from the Indians, when they were suddenly 
surprised by a party of savages and hurried toward 
the Brtitisli lines. A party of the militia pursuing 
the Indians fired several volleys, and Jane was 
struck by three bullets and killed. She was at once 
scalped by the Indians, and her body left on the 
field wiiere it was recovered by her friends and 
buried. Her remains now rest in the cemetery be- 
tween Fort Edward and Sandy Hill, a little off the 
highway, and her grave has been suitably marked 
by her kinsmen. No single event of the war liad 



THE MARCH AND THE DEFEAT. 10 

more iuiiuence in aroiisiug the Americans and stir- 
ring them to action than the untimely death of this 
girl, whose taking off was attributed to the savagery 
of the British and Indians. It was felt that no 
one was safe from such devilish barbaritj^ Every 
heart was stirred to vengeance. 

THE EXPEDITION AGAINST BENNINGTON. 

Upon arriving at Fort Ann, Burgoyne having 
learned that large stores of j)rovlsions, beef and 
horses had been collected at Bennington, despatched 
Col. Bauni with a force of the German troops to cap- 
ture them. This expedition passed down and 
crossed Batten Kil easterly of Schuylerville, and on 
August 16th, fell in with the Americans under 
Stark. A fierce, sharp and decisive engagement en- 
sued, and although Baum was leinforced by Col. 
Breyman, all were driven back before the vigorous 
charges of the Green Mountain Boys. Breyman es- 
caped with part of his force and joined the main 
array of Burgoyne, at Fort Miller, after a forced 
march, on August 17th. The invaders lost in this 
expedition, some fine artillery, several hundred 
stands of small arms, about seven hundred prisoners, 
and the bones of a considerable number were left to 
bleach upon the hills of Vermont, among them the 
gallant Baura. This was the first real set back 
which Burgoyne had experienced, and the moral 
effect which it produced was very disastrous to him. 
His Indian allies began to desert ; his troops lost 
their confidence and dash ; and by so much as his 
own army lost enthusiasm, by so much were the 
Americans encouraged and strengthened. 



20 THE MARCH AND THE DEFEAT. 

Reaching FortEdward, Buigoyue fouud it deserted 
by the Americans. He was here joined by a force of 
Sir William Johnson's Iiidiaus, and advancing down 
the river, Fraser's command occupied Fort Miller on 
the 9th of August, and within a few days the main 
army reached there. The remnants of the Beniiing- 
ton expedition joined it there, and a halt was made 
for nearly a month. During this time the Ameri- 
cans were gaining much information as to location, 
plans and strength of the invaders. From Sept. 11th 
to 13th, the army was encamped near the present 
hamlet of Clark's Mills, and preparations were made 
for crossing the river. Intrenchuients to cover the 
crossing from any attack on the Bennington side or 
otherwise, were thrown up ; a bridge of boats was 
thrown across a little below the present mills of the 
Thomson Pulp and Paper company, and on the 18th 
the crossing began. After passing the river Bur- 
goyne encamped on the present site of Schujierville, 
until the 15th, when a leisurely march down the 
river was taken up. Four days were consumed in ad- 
vancing ten miles, and very little or no information 
of the whereabouts, strength or movements of the 
Americans had been gained. 

Schuyler had fallen back from the north to Still- 
water, and thence to the mouth of the Mohawk, 
where he had fortified Van Schaick's island as being 
a practicable spot to oppose the passage of Bur- 
goyne's army. Here he was superseded hy Gates, 
who, on Sept. 8th, with 6 000 men took up a posi- 
tion at Bemis Heights, where fortifications were 
erected upon the plaus of Kosciusko, consisting of 
strong earthworks and batteries along the eastern 



THE MARCH AND THE DEFEAT. 21 

s\Dcl Dorthern parts of the hills, cominandiuo- the flats 
jiloDg the river, and the approaches from the uorth ; 
also a line of works from the hills to. the river, 
Hauked by a water battery at the river-side. Here 
Gates awaited the coming of Burgoyue. On the 
19th, Burgoyne having no definite information as to 
the whereabouts or strength of the Americans, 
moved forward on a sort of armed recounoissance, 
with his army In three divisions, the Germans near- 
est the river, his own division in the centre, and 
Fraser in the woods toward the west. About the 
middle of the afternoon, the centre accidentally en- 
gaged a poi-tion of Morgan's men who were scout- 
ing, at Freeman's farm. A sharp fight ensued. 
Fraser came to the assistance of the centre, and 
Morgan was worsted and fell back, but assistance 
])eing sent him, a bloody engagement took place. 
The clearing at Freeman's farm was repeatedly lost 
and w^on by both sides, until near nightfall, Tlei- 
desel advancing from the river saved the British 
from total defeat. Night coming on, the Americans 
withdrew within their lines, and the British camped 
on the field. The American loss was about four 
hundred, and the British eight hundred to one thous- 
and. Neither side renewed the attack next day, 
and soon Burgoyne began to build a fortified camp, 
which extended from the field of Freeman's farm to 
the river, entrenchments strengthened by redoubts. 
At the river the British works were about the pres- 
ent site of Wilbur's Basin. 

For nearly three weeks Burgoyne lay inactive 
within his camp. His positions were strengthened 
by additional entrenchments and batteries, but little 



22 THE MARCH AND THE DEFEAT. 

or no information of the enemy was obtained, al- 
though the Americans were so close at hand that 
their voices could be heard. The felling of trees 
and clanking of chains in their works were distinctly 
audible to the British. Provisions were reduced to 
16 days rations, and foraging parties were so un- 
successful that rations were reduced by Burgoyne's 
order. 

The question of falling back to the works at 
Batten Kil, was discussed and held in abeyance, 
until an armed reconnoissance could be made. 
Meanwhile, every movement of Burgoyne's army 
Avas reported to his adversar^^ and all things were in 
readiness to receiv^e his attack when made. 

On the forenoon of Oct. 7th, Burgoyne led his 
forces to a point about two-thirds of a mile westerly 
from Freeman's farm, where was a wheat-field, and 
the troops having been deployed in line, began to 
reap the forage. Meanwhile a detachment which 
had been sent forward on the British right to gain 
the rear of the American left had been discovered, 
and after a smart skirmish driven back. Burgoyne's 
line of troops having been reported to Gates, and 
accepted as a challenge to battle, the Americans 
were moved into position for aggressive operations. 
Morgan was dispatched under cover of woods to a 
position westerly of the British right, from whence 
he could outflank them. 

Poor and Learned moved to the front of Bur- 
goyne's left, and at half-past two attacked with 
great vigor. For a half hour the tide of battle liere 
surged to and fro with great carnage ; one field 
piece w^as taken and retaken four times ; Major 



THE MARCH AND THE DEFEAT. 23 

Acklaiid was -wouuded and the British left was 
driven back. 

Meanwhile Morgan descended like a thimderholt 
upon the right, and with the aid of Dearborn's two 
regiments, sent it tlying in confusion. For a time 
the whole American onslaught was concentrated on 
the British centre, which was gallantly defended by 
Col. Specht. Meanwhile, Lord Balcarras had ral- 
lied Burgoyne's right and again led them forward. 

Fraser, who had led an advance guard on the Brit- 
ish right, seeing the peril of the centre, which was 
now sorely pressed, hastened to its assistance. His 
energy was so conspicuous, that sharpshooters were 
detailed to pick him off, and in a few moments he 
was shot through the vitals by one of Morgan's men. 

His loss threw Burgoyne's army into confusion, 
and at this moment, three thousand reinforcements 
arriving for the Americans, a retreat within the 
breastworks was ordered bj^ Burgoyne. The en- 
gagement had now occupied about an hour. 

IsTo sooner had the retreat been sounded than Ar- 
nold, rushing to and fro at the head at the Ameri- 
cans, everywhere inspiring them with his own cour- 
rage, fell upon the Britisli entrenchments. Inch by 
inch the ground was stubbornly contested, until at 
nightfall the British were in retreat. The great 
redoubt on their right, the kej^ of their fortilications 
was in the hands of the patriots, and Arnold, wounded 
in the thickest of the fray, had covered himself with 
a glory, which his subsequent shame will never 
efface. Darkness put an end to the fighting. 
Burgoyne's troops were withdrawn to the lowlands 
alono- the river, and there remained until tlie even- 



24 THE MARCH AND THE DEFEAT. 

iDg- of Oct. 8th, wheu they took up the line of re- 
treat to the north, to the snireuder groimd, at 
Schuylerville. 

THE SURRENDER GROUND. 

Retreating in the evening- of Oct. Sth, with his 
defeated army from the fatal fieUl of Bemis Heights, 
and hourly in danger of attack from the rear, im- 
peded by rain and miry roads, clinging with the 
folly of pride to his trains of artillery and heavy 
camp equipage, Burg03^ne reached Dovegat, or 
Coveville, just before day on the 9th. and lialted in 
the pelting rain until near nightfall. From here 
Lady Ackland, with her maid, her husband's valet 
and the chaplain, set out through a driving storm, in 
a boat, to her husband in the Vihes of Gates. Her 
wifely devotion has been the theme of many able 
pens. Toward night of the ninth, the army was 
again astir and in the evening Burgoyne's troops, 
who had been unfed for twenty-four hours, forded 
Fish Creek, at Schuylerville, and lay down on the 
soaking ground to fast until morning. The com- 
mander took up his quarters in the old Schuyler 
Mansion south of the Creek, and here a champagne 
supper with liis boon companions, enlivened by the 
smiles of his mistress, the beautiful but tickle wife 
of one of his Commissaries, made the old mansion 
ring with merriment and helped him to forget his 
troubles and the privations of his troops. 

Next morning his men took up their positions on 
the liigh grounds west of the river, extending north- 
ward a mile or more from Fish Creek, positions which 
had just been vacated by Col. Fellows, who had oc- 
cupied the heights east of the river. 




\VU 



THE SURRENDER GROUND. 25 

The British Grenadiers, Light Infantry and 
Fraser's Rangers, occupied a fortified camp on the 
present site of the Saratoga Monument, Prospect 
Hill Cemetery and Victory woods, and from there 
stretching away to the north. The German troops 
were encamped on tlie high plain extending from 
Spring street northward to the Marshall place. 

American detachments under Col. Fellows had al- 
ready occupied the hills east of the river, stretching- 
down from a point somewhat north of Batten Kil, 
along the present site of Clark's Mills, to a point op- 
posite Fish Creek. ^N'ext afternoon, Oct. 10th, the 
Americans arrived on the high grounds skirting- 
Fish Creek, from the present site of Horicon Mill to 
the village of Victory Mills. Believing that the 
main army of the British had retreated, it was re- 
solved to attack the remainder at daylight of the 
11th, and crossing Fish Creek under cover of a fog, 
the Americans narrowly escaped destruction by an 
ambuscade. Retreating across the Creek, Morgan's 
men by a march to the west occupied the high 
ground to the west of Burgoyne's troops, extending 
from the elevations westerly of Victory Mills, along 
the brow of the hills westerly from where the monu- 
ment now stands ; thence along the hills in rear of 
the Marshall House ; and thence in rear of the Bil- 
lings place, at Northumberland, resting on the 
river, about two miles north of Schuylerville. The 
main army of the Americans remained south of 
Fish Creek. 

The objective point in Burgoyne's retreat was the 
north lakes, and ultimately, Canada. To accom- 
plish this he must now either cross a considera- 



26 THE SURRENDER GROUND. 

ble morass and break the American line on tlie 
lieights beyond, or cross the river under a murderous 
artillery fire from the heights to the eastward. 
Every hour increased the difficulty of retreat, since 
reinforcements were constantly arriving for liis 
enemy, and American detachments were destro3^ing 
the bridges and obstructing the roads to the north. 

Had he abandoned his artillery and surplus equip- 
age, and retreated with all possible dispatch from 
the battle lield, he might, perhaps, have caved his 
army. But he was not the Geuei-al to grasp the situ- 
ation in defeat and promptly guide his action in 
accordance. Surrounded by more than live times 
his own number of troops, his provisions almost 
exhausted, his positions commanded by the enemy's 
artillery, necessity compelled him to surrender. 
Articles of capitulation were signed, it is said, 
under a large tree at what is now the lower end of 
Broadway, Schuylerville, a spot now marked by a 
tablet set into the wall of a building; his men 
marched out before the ruins of old Fort Hardy, on 
Oct. 17, 1777, piled arms and started southerly 
across Fish Creek, between the files of Continentals, 
on their march to Boston. About a mile south of 
Schuylerville, and in front of Gates' headquarters, 
B.irgoyne gave uj) his swjrd in the presence of both 
armies. The feelings of the proud commander as he 
saw his veterans march down to the field of the 
grounded arms, and start ui)0u their journey to their 
prison camp, can be appreciated only by those who 
have seen the proudest of life's hopes turn to dust 
and ashes before their eyes. 

Fort Hardy, in front of which the arms were 



THE SURRENDER GROUND. 27 

stacked, stood in the angle formed by the confluence 
of Fish Creek and the Hadsou, to the north of tlie 
former. It had been built many years before in the 
early French and Indian wars. Mementoes of its 
former military character liave been unearthed in 
recent years, but cultivated fields and village lots 
have practically obliterated all traces of it. The 
same is true of almost all parts of the famous camp 
ground of Burgoyue. Along the wooded ridge be- 
tween the villages of Victory and Schuylerville, 
earthworks may still be traced. But the same 
l)loughshare which turns up coins and bullets, bones, 
shells and other relics, levels and effaces the historic 
landmarks, and in a short time all visible traces of 
the great struggle will have melted away forever. 
The only open field, as far as known, which has 
never felt the ploughshare from the battle to the 
present time, is on the farm of Benjamin Sarle, just 
below the Freeman Farm, and which was X)ccupied 
by the Americans during the battles of Sept. 19th 
and Oct. 7th. What relics this field may hold in 
store will not be known until its present proprietor 
has passed awa\', as he keeps it in its virgin soil. 

THE fC )PE OF THE VICTORY. 

As long as reverent remembrance of the deeds of 
great men shall draw the world's travellers to the 
scenes of their accomplishment, so long will eager 
visitors love to linger over the scene of the greatest 
military event of modern times. As long as men 
seek out the monuments which mark God's covenant 
with His people in the wilderness, or delve after the 
buried cities of the plain, which Homer sang; as 
long as the sculptured shafts and ruined arches of 



28 THE SCOPE OF THE VICTOKY. 

mighty Eoine repeat with eloquence the triuuiphs of 
her arins and statesmanship ; as long as Marathon 
and Waterloo shall draw to them the pilgrimages of 
the curious — so long, and longer, will the greatest 
battle ground of modern historj- be traversed, 
studied and remembered by disciples and lovers of 
liberal progress. 

When Attilla. "The Scourge of God," with his 
barbaric Huns, retired, defeated, from Chalons, the 
tide of Eastern ignorance and barbarism turned 
backward and Western civilization was secured. 
When Napoleon's Imperial Guards were swept from 
the ill-fated plains of Waterloo, the wave of despot- 
ism which threatened to engulf all Europe, was 
turned upon itself. When the veterans of Burgoyne 
were brought to bay upon the heights of Saratoga, 
the powers of arbitrary rule were var.quished for 
the Western World, and free self government be- 
came a i)0ssibility. 

No people ever had more honest reason to be 
proud of its achievements, nor greater event to 
chronicle in stone, than Ameiica in its Battle of 
Saratoga. Had Burgoyne succeeded here, he would 
have joined Sir Henry Clinton's victorious army on 
its northwaid march. European powers would 
never have lent their assistance. The spark of in- 
dependence would have been extinguished in the 
Colonies, perhaps forever. Popular self-government 
would never have found a soil so favorable for its 
development, and the large conceptions of liberty 
and individual manhood which it has taught the 
ra'^e would have been postponed for centuries. 

If the history of any spot upon the good, green 



THE ?COPE OF THE VICTORY. 29 

earth eulist the interest of men who love the grand 
and full protection of freedom, it will be that of the 
hills and vales where marches and struggles, tri- 
umphs and defeats of contending armies settled the 
destiny of countless unborn generations, along the 
borders of the placid Hudson. 

THE FORTS AT FCHUYLERVILLE. 

The first fort at this place was built in 1690. 
Major Fetvn- Philipp Schuj^ler, Mayor of Albany, on 
a march against the French, at Crown Point, built a 
fort below Fish Creek, on the west bank of the 
Hudson, which he called Fort Saratoga. This is 
said to have been the first use of the name, Saratoga, 
by white men. This fort stood until 1745, when it 
was burned at the sacking of the place by the 
French. 

In 1709, during the war between the Frencli and 
English, following the accession of Queen Anne, 
Col. Peter Schuyler, advancing from Albany against 
Canada, built a stockaded wooden fort east of the 
Hudson, opposite Saratoga, (now Scliuylerville). 
and near the Batten Kil. In 1746-7, Fort Saratoga, 
which had been burned during the massacre of 1745. 
was rebuilt on the west of the river, north of the 
mouth of Fish Creek, of logs and hewn timber. It 
was 150x100 feet, and had six block houses within. 
It was named Fort Clinton, after Gov. Geo. Clinton. 
This was abandoned and burned by the English in 
the fall of 1747. In 1755, says Neilson in his sketch 
of Burgoyne's campaign, the French, under Gen. 
Dieskau, when on their way to menace Albany and 
thus ward off an attack on Crown Point, built Fort 
Hardy, the remains of which were standing at Bur- 



30 THE SCOPE OF THE VICTORY. 

goyne's surrender. The intrench meats occupied 
about 15 acres of ground at the north angle of Fish 
Creek and Hudson River, 

THE MARSHALL PLACE. 

No visitor will fail to see this famous house, which 
was the scene of so many brilliant experiences just 
prior to the closing of the great campaign, and 
which will ever live in history from the graphic de- 
lineation of those scenes by Madame Eiedesel, that 
most sweet and womanly character, who had the 
pleasure and tlie pain of sketching them. 

This place is situated on the Fort Edward stage 
road, a little north of the village limits. It was 
owned during the Revolution by Major Ln using, 
who, a little later, 1787, sold it to Samuel Bushee, 
an uncle, and Samuel Marshall, father of the late 
William B. Marshall, whose widow and heirs now 
own and reside upon the place. 

The frame of the house remains unaltered, and 
the genitral arrangement of the rooms is the same as 
in the days when it was under fire. The northeast 
room, in which Surgeon Jones was killed while un- 
dergoing an amputation of the leg, was somewhat 
repaired about 1843, and the remainder of the house 
was reboarded and roofed anew about 18G8. With 
these alterations the house remains in its original 
condition. 

About two o'clock in the afternoon of October 
tenth, 1777, a rude calash containing the young and 
beautiful Baroness Riedesel and her three little 
girls drove up to this house, that they might be as 
far removed as possible from the danger of the pur- 
suing enemy. Stretching away to the southwest lay 



THE MARSHALL PLACE. 31 

Burgoyue's British troops, and the Germiui Auxili- 
aries, i-estiug iu their retreat from the battle ground 
near Bemis Heights. Fartlier away to the west 
were Morgan's famous riliemen, taking up positions 
along Burgoyue's front and flank. Just across the 
river to the east, in the autumn-tinted woods, the 
forces of Col. Fellows were bringing their batteries 
to bear upon the foe at bay. As the party halted 
before the house, some soldiers stationed across the 
river, levelled their muskets. Hastily pushing her 
children to the bottom of the wagon, the young 
mother had barely time to throw herself down be- 
fore the bullets of these sharp-shooting Americans 
came whistling overhead, severely wounding a sol- 
dier in attendance. The house was soon resorted to 
b}' the other ladies of the army and some wounded 
soldiers. No sooner had they entered than the 
Americans stationed on the heights across the river, 
seeing the gathering and supposing the place to be 
the British headquarters, trained their artillery upon 
it and opened a tire which speedily drove the in- 
mates to the cellar. Here Madame Riedesel lay 
down iu a corner, holding the heads of her three 
children in her lap and quieting their fears as best 
she could, while the tiring continued outside. The 
cellar was divided by plank partitions into three 
apartments, into which the women, wounded officers 
and soldiers were distributed so as to occupy as 
little space as possible. Here, huddled together, 
amidst the cries and groans of the wounded, the 
darkness and damp of the cellar, and the stench of 
the wounds and accumulating tilth, the night was 
passed in terror. Early next morning the firing was 



32 THE MARSHALL PLACE. 

renewed with more severity than ever. Eleven can- 
non balls passed through the house witliin a sliort 
time. Surgeon Jones, who had already been wound- 
ed so severely as to require an amputation of the 
leg, was Ijing on a table in the northeast room over 
the cellar In the midst of the operation, when a 
passing cannon ball carried away his remaining leg. 
He was then abandoned to die in a corner. Coward- 
ly soldiers endeavored to force their way into the 
cellar and with diflftcult}^ restrained, wounded 
otticers constantly being brought in for nursing, 
suffering, thirst and death iurreased the horror of 
the situation. No one dared to go to the river for 
water, save a soldiers wife, whose sex was respected 
by the enemy, and who went down regularly and 
fetched a small supply, unmolested by sharpshoot- 
ers across the rivers. Horses stood ready saddled at 
the door, provided for the Baroness' escape in case 
further retreat became possible. Only upon the 
surrender could the little company abandon the 
close packing box, which had been at once a hospital, 
a refuge and a prison for so many dreary hours, 
from Oct. 10th to Oct. 17th. 

The cannon ball which killed Surgeon Jones was 
probably fired from a little eminencce across the 
river, not far north of Batten Kil. It entered the 
northeast corner Of the house and passed diagonally 
across the room since used as a parlor, thence 
through the thick plank partition of the hallway 
and on into the ground. One of these planks, which 
was cut and shattered at one end by the ball in its 
passage, is preserved upon the premises and shown 
to visitors. One of the rafters, cut partly in twain 



w^ 




ft-:-. 




THE MARSHALL PLACE. 33 

by a passing- shell, was removed from its place iu 
the frame while repairino- the house in 1868, and is 
also preserved upon the premises. In digging for a 
small addition to the cellar iu 1868, a small shot was 
found imbedded in the earth, which, from its position, 
is supposed to be the one which cut the rafter above. 
Several other shot and bits of shell ploughed up on 
the farm are shown. Also a large gold coin bearing 
the Jigure and inscription of George III, and on 
the reverse side the British arms and an inscription 
with the date, 1776. A curious old flint lock musket 
with bayonet, which was carried iu the war by 
Abram Marshall, grandfather of the late William 
B., may also be seen. 

The huge pine beams overlying the cellar, one of 
the front doors of the ancient hall-way, the piece of 
rafter and plank above described, and the curious, 
heavy front door lock which now protects the car- 
riage house from light-fingered nocturnal travelers, 
are all as sound and well preserved as when the 
house was built more than a century ago. One of 
the partition walls of the cellar remains exactly as it 
stood during the cannonade. Another has been re- 
moved and the cellar bottom cemented. Aside from 
this it remains unchanged. 

The cellar as at present kept, light, clean and 
sweet, with rows of shining milk pans, heavy laden 
with thick cream, and its great fruit bins suggestive 
of rich harvest stores, seem spacious and inviting 
enough to lure the visitor to residence — and form a 
IHcture of the charms of peace, in strong contrast to 
the dark and bloody scenes of war enacted by the 



34 THE MARSHALL PLACE. 

frightened people who crowded them a huiidred 
years ago. 

THE SCHUYLER MANSION. 

At the southern limits of Schuylerville, on the 
bank of Fish Creek, stands the famous country house 
of General Philip Schuyler, a place of unfailing in- 
terest to the historian and traveller ; not only on 
account of the scenes which have been enacted near 
it, but also on account of the noble character so in- 
timately associated with it. 

The chain of title to it is not without interest. In 
1683, certain Mohawk Sachems conveyed the old 
Saratoga hunting ground to Cornelius Van Dyk, 
Jan Jansen Bleeker, Peter Philippsen Schuyler and 
Johanness Wendell ; a quit-claim was also had from 
a remnant of the Mohicans, of any rights they miglit 
have in the lands ; thereupon Gov. Dougau issued a 
patent for these lands to said grantees and their as- 
sociates. Dyrick Wessell, David Schuyler and Robert 
Livingstone. Next year these owners met and di- 
vided the lands into seven parcels, for which they 
cast lots. Lot Number Five, all the land west of the 
Hudson and north of Fish Creek, on which Schuy- 
lerville now stands, was drawn by Robert Living- 
stone. Lot Number Four, south of Fish Creek and 
west of the Hudson, fell to Johannes Wendell, who 
by his will in 1091, devised it to his son, Abraham 
Wendell. In 1702, Abraham sold it to Johannes 
Schuyler, who built the old brick mansion and sev- 
eral mills and otherwise developed and improved the 
property. His sons, Philip and John, Jr., succeeded 
him in the ownership of this property, and Philip, 
uncle of General Phili]) Schuyler, resided in this 



THE SCHUYLER MANSION. 35 

mansion, nntil he was slain in the massacre of 1745. 
His nephew, Gen. Philip Schuyler, of Revolutionary 
fame, iuherited it, and on his death in 1804, it fell to 
his brother, John, and from John to his son, Philip, 
nephew of the General. Philip's representatives 
conveyed it to Col. George Strover, whose heirs now 
own the place, and whose daughter. Mrs. John H. 
Lowber, resides on it. 

When Burgoyue reached here on his retreat from 
Bemis Heights he took possession of the old mansion 
for his headquarters, and while the storm beat with- 
out and his hungry soldiers, wearied with marching, 
lay down to sleep in wet garments upon the sodden 
ground, the house gleamed Avith lights and rang with 
merriment and cliuking glasses. The commander, 
with his mistress and same boon companions spent 
the night in merrymaking, drinking and carousing ; 
squandering the precious hours in which he should 
have been preparing his troops for flight, or taking 
precautions for defence. October 11, 1777, the old 
brick house was burned bj^ Burgoyne's orders upon 
the plea that ''he" was afraid the American forces 
would make some move under cover of the house.'' 

The present house was built by order of Gen. 
Gates, within a few days after the surrender. Ex- 
cavations made within a year or two have brought 
to light the cellar walls of the old mansion, and 
many relics, such as knivess, shears and other relics 
were found in the ruins. The old house stood a 
little easterly of the present one. The present 
house is practically unchanged in appearance since 
building, and is of ample proportions. Many inter- 
esting relics are there preserved and shown to visi- 



36 THE SCHUYLER MANSION. 

tors with great courtesy, notwithstanding the pil- 
fering of valuable articles heretofore. 

Among them are a sword carried at the battle of 
Bennington by an aide of Gen. Stark, with a sword, 
musket and cartridge box carried in the Revolution 
bj^ John Strover. father of Col. George Strover ; a 
teacup is shown, from which it is said Gen. Washing- 
ton partook during a visit to Geu. Schuyler. The 
saucer and a plate from the same beautiful china 
service were taken by some vandal visitor. A string 
of curious beads unearthed from the cellar of the 
old mansion ; knee and shoe buckles, grubbing 
hooks, shells, grape, an old milk strainer, 30 inches 
in diameter, made out of a knot of wood, in the year 
1710 ; a bread bowl, 3 feet in circumference, date 
1710, also made out of a knot of wood ; a blue-col- 
ored milk bowl, out of which the grent-grandfather 
ate his bread and milk, when a boy ; a black lace 
veil, embroidei-ed by hand, over 100 years old; 
several gold rings, 150 years old ; a glass bell knob, 
from the house of Benedict Arnold ; a copper coin, 
with " Vora Caesaria, 1787," on one side, and, on the 
other, an escutcheon and motto: "-E. Piuribus 
Unum." 

Then there are a miscellaneous assortuient of 
Indian tomahawks in store ; stone arrow heads, a 
large eight-inch shell, an iron weed axe, an iron 
wedge, a petrified honeycomb, a string of brass 
beads dug from an Indian squaw's grave, a silver 
shoe and knee buckles, a bolt from the burned door 
of Gen, Schuyler's old home, an iron pulley from the 
old mill, an old-fashioned door knocker, an old bed- 
stead with dimity curtains and valances, a brass 



THE SCHUYLER MANSION. 317 

siiidirou and tongs, a hickory chair over 100 year? 
old, etc, 

A letter addressed from Gem, Schuyler to -John 
Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, 
dated Oct. 16, '76, and written froni Saratoga, 
asking '* that provisions be sent at once,"^ is also 
shown. So is a remarkable letter, written by one 
E. Mattoon, Esq., of Amherst, Mass. This Mat- 
toon was an officer in the American army. He 
writes to Philip Schuyler and states therein that 
*' Gen. Gates never would have captured Burgoyne 
had he not followed the plans of Gen. Schuyler and 
taken his advice." 

Conspicuous among the bold bands of tories who 
infested the Hudson valley during the Revolution, 
was Thomas Lovelace, a man of great courage, size 
and energy, and one much feared among the patri- 
ots. In company with four companions, he was 
surprised one morning by three yeomen while lying 
by the camp- tire in a forest retreat. He was bound 
and taken to the barracks on or near the present site 
of Schuylerville, for trial by court martial. He was 
convicted as a spy and hanged a few rods south of 
the Schuyler mansion, and buried in a standing 
posture. Some years ago in digging gravel, the 
remains were found near the oak stump at the spot 
indicated to Col. Strover by his father, (who was 
present at the execution) as the burial place. The 
skull is shown at the mansion, almost as sound as 
when buried. Sad end of a brave man ! his bones 
have been parted by strangers, and even his teeth 
stolen from their sockets by curious gazers. 



38 FRAZEK'^S BURIAL rLACU. 

AVhile husteniii^ to support the centre of the 
British nrniy. on the afternoon of October seventh, 
Frazer, nwunted on a gray hoi-se, became conspicu- 
ous to the Americans, both by his courage and his 
intluence upon the spirits of his troops. Recoguizing- 
the necessit}^ for his removal, Morgan placed a few 
of his celebrated ritleinen in the bushes, with in- 
structions to cut him off. ]i) a short time he was 
shot through the body, probably by Timothy Mur- 
ph3% one of Morgan"'* surest shots, and was conveyed 
to the Taylor House, near tlie river, a little north of 
Wilber's Basin. Here Madanie Riedesel had pre- 
ptired a dinner for the officers, which was standing, 
partly served, upon the table, when poor Frazer 
was brought in mortally wounded. The table was 
removed, a bed prepared, and every attention shown 
him. But the bullet ]»ad passed through his vitals, 
and he died early next morning in great agony. 
Agreeabl}^ to his Inst request, he was buried at six 
o'clock in the e\^ening, in the easterly "Great 
Redoubt," which formed the strongest part of the 
British intrenchments on the hills near the river. 
The Americans, not understanding the nature of the 
gather! Qg, opened fire from across the river upon the 
burial party, and while the Chaplain read the 
service over the remaius, hostile shots were plough- 
ing the earth at his feet, and covering the party 
with the dust which they threw up. Fitting funeral 
for the brave soldier ! As Eiedesel said of it, "A 
real militarj^ funeral, and one that was unique of its 
kind." 

The place of burial was on the high ground north 
about a half mile from Wilber's Basin, about an 



FllAZ Ell's BURIAL PLACE. 3(i 

eighth of a mile from the river. Tall twin piuc 
trees are poiuted out as marking the spot, and a 
monument has lately been set up there to guide the 
traveler to the grave of the gallant General, so idol- 
ized by his troops, and so reverently respected by 
ills enemies. 

THE SARATOGA MONUMENT. 

This splendid and imposing structure has been 
pronounced by comi)etent judg(;s one of the tinest, if 
not, indeed, the linest of its kind in the world. It 
was erected by the " Saratoga Monument Associa- 
tion," a corporation created for that purpose, undcjr 
a perpetual charter from the State of Nevr York. 
The object of its promoters was the preservation in 
granite, statuary and allegorical pictures of the 
Nation's greatest crisis. The Association was 
formed in 1850, but comparatively little was ac- 
complished until al)out 1875, since which time de- 
signs have been perfected, land secured and the 
shaft erected and embellished and grounds improved. 

The monument stands upon the crowning height 
of Burgoyne's intrenched camp, near the surrender 
ground of Saratoga, towering above the level of the 
river more than four hundred feet, and commanding 
a view of tbe battle Held and other historic spots, 
for many miles in all directions. Its architecture 
combines the Gothic and Egyptian elements. The 
base, with its graceful arches and artistic gables, its 
statuary and ornaments, commemorative of the 
events and men that formed the history of that pe- 
riod, represent the Gothic element of the structure. 
The massive shaft, towering above the surrender 



40 THE SARATOGA MONUMENT. 

groand, comntemorative of Victory, shows the Eo;y|i- 
tiaii type. It was tiesigiiecl by and erected under 
the siipei-visioo of John C. Markbam, Architect, of 
Jersey City. Tlie comer stoDC was laid with ini- 
posino: military and civic ceremocie&, by J. J. Coach, 
Grand Master o-f the Masonic Grand Body of the 
Htate of New York, on the centennial anniversary of 
Burgoyne^s sun-euder, October 17^ 1877^ and the 
granite woiii was completed^ without a single acci- 
dent, in June, 1883. 

n^e base is forty feet square, of light granite, 
neatly axed, and the shaft of dark granite, rough 
hewn. Over the enti'ances on each side, gables rise 
to a height of nearly forty feet, resting- at their 
bases, at each comer of the structure, upon granite 
eagles, wit^h folded wings, measuring seven feet 
across the back. ITie cornices of all the doors and 
windows rest upon polished granite columns with 
carved capitals. Over each entrance, within the 
gable, is a niche resei-ved for statuaiy. In three of 
these, seven foot bronze statues are placed ; General 
Schuyler, looking east ; General Morgan, looking 
west; General Gates, facing north. The fourth 
niche, facing to the field of his most brilliant deeds, 
which would have done honor to Arnold had he 
met death upon the field, is and will stand a perpet- 
ual declaration that treachery can never be foi-given 
in a general of the United States. The first two 
stories are adorned with tablets and historical 
pictures, cast in bronze, alto relievo, representing the 
continental citizens and soldiers, the progress of the 
campaign, and the principal characters of the 
period. 



THE SARATOGA MONUMENT. 41 

Oq the lower floor, to the left us you euter, is 
presented the first bronze relief. In the granite 
block or slab beneath it (a similar one being under 
all others also) is cut the following : '' George III 
and his ministers devising methods for enforcing the 
unjust taxation of the American colonists." 

Under the next : ''The town meeting. The peo- 
ple instituting the means of self-government for the 
protection of their natural rights." 

The third : '' The Ladies of the British court. Idle, 
effeminate, sensuous, extravagant and wasteful ; de- 
manding for their support the taxing of the col- 
onists." 

The fourth : " Women of the Revolution, 1776. 
Industrious, self-denying, frugal, clothing and feed- 
ing themselves and their families and giving aid and 
comfort to an army of defence." 

The fifth : "The rally of the people for the de- 
fense of their just rights, which resulted in the 
establishment of popular government." 

The sixth : General Schuyler felling trees to 
obstruct the march of the British army." 

The seventh : " Mrs. Gen. Schuyler setting fire to 
her wheat field to prevent its use by the enemy." 

The eighth : " Wives of the British ofticers ac- 
companying the army in its march through the 
wilderness." 

At the head of the stairs on the next floor are : 

First : "" The massacre of Jane McCrea." 

Second : '' Gen. Burgoyne reprimanding the 
Indians for their barbarities." 

Third: "'General Schuyler turning over his 
command to Gen. Gates." 



42 THE SARATOGA MONUMBNT. 

Fourth : " Fall of Geu. Frazer.'' 

Fifth : " Woiindiug of Gen. Arnold in the Bruns- 
wick redoubt." 

Sixth: ''The passage of Lady Harriet Ackland 
under a flag of truce to visit her husband, wounded 
and a prisoner." 

Seventh : "Burial of Gen. Frazer." 

Eighth : " The surrender." 

Room has been provided for 19 more figures in 
bronze, all of which will be added soon. 

Fine bronze busts of Hon. Horatio Seymour, Hon. 
Hamilton Fish and Hon. John H. Starin, early 
presidents and promoters of the Monument Associa- 
tion, grace the first floor. An iron stairway leads 
up about one hundred and forty feet to the highest 
windows which command a most charming view of 
the Hudson valley and neighboring villages. The 
extreme height of the granite work is one hundred 
and fifty-four feet. 

At the entrance to the grounds a large cannon, 
said to have been taken from the British in the war 
of 1812, and bearing the British crest, stands guard 
over the treasure within. 

In 1895, the Saratoga Monumeut Association, 
passed over its title and control of the structure to 
the State of Xew York. 

No grander educational edifice has ever been 
erected, nor will the country's memoi-y furnish a 
theme more worthy to be chronicled in brass and 
stone, nor one upon which the sym])athy of the 
Nation is more henrtily agreed, than those here 
embodied. 




Q 
!?; 

O 

M 
O 

H 
W 

H 

O 
Ph 



MAP OF BATTLE GROUND AND CAMPS, 
OCTOBER 7, 1777. 



The numbers refer to numbers on map on 
opposite page. 



l_Wilber"s Basin 

2— Great Redoubt. Frazer's Burial Place 

3_Freeman Farm and Cottage 

4— Breyman's Hill, Great Redoubt 

5_Frazer Wounded 

6_Britisli Line of Battle 

7_Morgan's Troops 

8_Dearborn"s Division 

9 — Poor's Division 

10— Learned's Division 

11— American Pickets 

12— British Intrenchments 

13— American Intrenchments 

14— Neilson Place, Poor's and Arnold's Quarters. 

15_-Gates' Headquarters 

16— Bemis Tavern 

17— Bridge of Boats, Americans 

18— Bridge of Boats, British 



OCT i9|;< , 



{ Old Saratoga { 



AND THE 



Burjoyije C\v[)p\\ii). 



S 8fief $ketdl| of tlie J^ki^ly Si^toi^y of tl^e 

J^air\ou^ Sui|tir)g Gti'ouiid^ ar)d tl)e 

Cknipkigii wliicflj J^r^ded it) tl^e ^ui'- 

I'eridei' of tlje ©fiti^l) ^i'ii\y, kt 

>^ki^atogk, OaohQt 1^, l^YY, 

witl^ dor|ei|5^e ©e^dfiptioi^l^ 

of tl^e Prii^dipkl Plkde^ 

Cioi)i)edted Witl) tl|e 

.^ui'i^er^def. 



BY 

WILLIAM S. OSTRRNDER, 



u^^ 



SCHUYLERVILLE, N. Y. : ^ 

1897. ^ 



